However, that is pretty limiting for spacecraft attitude. Probably doable, though, if you are just using it as a non-critical supplement to the batteries.

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Chris Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers. US law http://goo.gl/YZYNt0

I think it goes both ways, here. Not contradicting what you said, just expounding on the comment from Ferguson: CST-100 may retain enough battery power to do the whole mission (in a slightly accelerated mode) with batteries-only if BOTH arrays fail to open, like was discussed with cargo Dragon.

From what we have seen from Boeing, the Arrays wont need to deploy, they will just sit on the end of the CST-100 SM:

Good find, I like it. Seems like it's a pretty flexible spacecraft and good design.

I think it goes both ways, here. Not contradicting what you said, just expounding on the comment from Ferguson: CST-100 may retain enough battery power to do the whole mission (in a slightly accelerated mode) with batteries-only if BOTH arrays fail to open, like was discussed with cargo Dragon.

From what we have seen from Boeing, the Arrays wont need to deploy, they will just sit on the end of the CST-100 SM:

I think it goes both ways, here. Not contradicting what you said, just expounding on the comment from Ferguson: CST-100 may retain enough battery power to do the whole mission (in a slightly accelerated mode) with batteries-only if BOTH arrays fail to open, like was discussed with cargo Dragon.

From what we have seen from Boeing, the Arrays wont need to deploy, they will just sit on the end of the CST-100 SM:

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev., April 30, 2014 -- Boeing [NYSE:BA] today unveiled a new commercial interior of its Crew Space Transportation (CST-100) next-generation manned space capsule, showing how people other than NASA astronauts may one day travel to space.

Boeing and partner Bigelow Aerospace highlighted the future commercial interior of the capsule it is developing for NASA, while Bigelow showcased a full-scale model of its BA 330 commercial space habitat.

"We are moving into a truly commercial space market and we have to consider our potential customers – beyond NASA – and what they need in a future commercial spacecraft interior," said Chris Ferguson, former Space Shuttle Atlantis commander and current Boeing director of Crew and Mission Operations for the Commercial Crew Program.

Engineers from across Boeing leveraged the company's decades of experience in commercial and government aerospace to design the capsule's interior.

"Boeing's teams have been designing award-winning and innovative interiors for our airplanes since the dawn of commercial aviation," said Rachelle Ornan, regional director of Sales and Marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Designing the next-generation interior for commercial space is a natural progression. A familiar daytime blue sky scene helps passengers maintain their connection with Earth."

CST-100, developed as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Integrated Capability initiative, is designed to transport up to seven crew members or a mix of crew and cargo to low-Earth-orbit destinations such as the International Space Station and a planned Bigelow station.

It is not a misunderstanding. If the sole purpose of the flight is to deliver passengers to a commercial space station, such as Bigelow has planned using its BA 330 modules, then the CST-100's new commercial interior can be configured to seat nine passengers and one pilot.

That said, the way the cabin is designed, the "overhead bins" of the spaceliner occupy the same space as the seats, so for each storage space the customer wants, they lose a chair. Bigelow envisions flights with six crew members.

So it is a maximum of ten people with the actual number to be dictated by the customer's needs.

It is not a misunderstanding. If the sole purpose of the flight is to deliver passengers to a commercial space station, such as Bigelow has planned using its BA 330 modules, then the CST-100's new commercial interior can be configured to seat nine passengers and one pilot.

That said, the way the cabin is designed, the "overhead bins" of the spaceliner occupy the same space as the seats, so for each storage space the customer wants, they lose a chair. Bigelow envisions flights with six crew members.

So it is a maximum of ten people with the actual number to be dictated by the customer's needs.

I'm still not seeing it. Look at the the middle top part of the first image below - that is how 7 seats will be arranged.

Then look at the 2nd image. There is no "overhead bins" space in the CST pressurized volume - certainly not enough for seats to be placed up there. (the 3rd image as well)

So how do they fit 3 more seats? Unless they plan on having people sit in each others laps, it would be veeeery tight.

What's being discussed now is the new commercial version (non-NASA) of the capsule, revealed Wednesday. The seating arrangement, types of seats, storage and other elements are different for commercial passengers.

"Overhead bins" wasn't meant to be taken literally. They aren't overhead. The bins are interchangeable with the seats. In the rendering linked below, where you see a bin is where another seat could go.

Yes, but I suspect that any Boeing engineer that actually works on the CST-100 would find that rendering quite amusing. IKEA chairs with no shock absorption capability. No room for ECCLS or other flight systems. (since the cabin now extends all the way down to the bottom of the pressurized structure - these systems appear to be taking up the bottom 1ft of the NASA configuration)

You might think I am being biased here, but if SpaceX (or SnC) unveils something as outlandish on May 29, I will happily decry it as equally fantastic.